Question about Federal Retirement and SSI [View all]

Does anyone know anything about this:
When I was young(er) I worked for the IRS for nine years. Then I had a baby and we moved so my husband could go to college, and I decided to pull my retirement savings out of the federal pension system- it was about $9,000.00 and allowed me to stay home with my kids for several years while my husband completed college.

So now fast forward and I am 60 this year and I have been working for about 15 years- (stayed home gratefully all- together for 17 years and my kids turned out great!) I'm since divorced and I'm wondering if I would be better of had I left that money in the Federal Retirement system? I wonder if I can pay it back?
And if so, what good it might do me? Does anyone know anything about these things or where I might ask? I DID look at the FERS stuff on line and was quickly cross-eyed. What I would love would be to know if there is a way to regain the credit for those years of working, through some kind of SSI/FERS reciprocity.

Thanks!
Vanlassie